Chapter 15 #3
“The day we ran into her, he didn’t. To the message, he responded that he was faithful to me and not to call him anymore, but I suppose that was because I discovered it.
I know you think differently, but I assure you Henry doesn’t love me.
He might have enjoyed being with me, and excuse me for what I’m about to say, but desire isn’t love.
I have no doubt he desires me, but I’m sure he doesn’t love me.
If after everything we went through he didn’t realize what he feels for me, he never will.
For my own good, it was better to end our relationship as soon as possible. ”
“Do you still love him?”
“Yes; and I don’t think these feelings will be easy to overcome, but I’ll manage it.”
“I won’t tell you what I think because it’s clear you won’t believe me, and you asked me not to talk about him, but it makes me so angry that you two can’t understand each other because I’m sure that…”
“Niky, don’t continue with that.”
“Fine,” she said, defeated. “What do you want to do? Should we order something or go to the hotel restaurant?”
“Whatever you prefer. You’re the guest of honor,” I said, smiling.
“I’m glad to be. I was afraid that… you know, your thing with my brother would ruin our friendship.”
“Don’t worry because I understand they’re different relationships and I won’t let that happen. I’ll probably do everything possible to avoid him at first, and that will include not going to your house, but after I get over it we’ll have to get used to seeing each other.”
Niky sighed in defeat.
“Well, do you want to stay here?”
“Do you want to stay overnight? That way you won’t have to drive in the early morning.”
“Perfect, I’ll stay,” she said happily.
We ordered dinner to be brought up and then decided to watch a movie. As we were getting comfortable on the couch, her phone rang.
“It’s Henry,” she said, getting up from the couch and going out to the open balcony, I assumed to talk privately.
To avoid making her uncomfortable, since I could hear her conversation from where I was, I went to my bedroom. A few minutes later I returned to the living room and she was already sitting on the couch, but I noticed she looked worried.
“Everything okay?” I asked.
“I don’t even know what to tell you. My brother called me by accident.
All I could hear was the noise of wherever he was and his voice talking to someone.
I guess he’s at a bar or pub. Sometimes I think he’s doing it on purpose to confront the person who had him drugged, but he doesn’t realize the risk is huge.
It’s like he doesn’t care about anything.
He’s out of control,” she said, shaking her head.
“Your brother is 37 years old, I suppose he knows what he’s doing.”
“Lately my brother is beside himself, it’s like he’s self-destructing, but I’d rather not talk about that,” she said, looking at me seriously.
“If you’re nervous, maybe you should call him,” I suggested.
“I tried, but he won’t answer.”
“Try again until he answers.”
“I don’t think he will, unless…” she said thoughtfully, and I didn’t like the way she was looking at me.
“I don’t know what you’re planning, but please don’t involve me in this,” I stated.
“I was going to ask to borrow your phone. I’m sure if my brother sees your number, he’ll answer.”
“Please don’t ask me to call him,” I begged.
“Just lend me your phone, I’ll be the one talking,” she said, stretching out her hand.
I didn’t like the idea because it felt like I was conspiring with his sister, and I didn’t want him to think I was interfering in his life, but seeing how genuinely worried Niky was, I had no choice but to give it to her.
As soon as she took it, she stood up and called him.
The first time it rang until it cut off.
On the second attempt, he answered immediately.
?“Henry.”
?—…
?“I’m not Dalina, I’m your sister,” she said, frowning.
?—…
?“I’m not going to put her on, Dalina just lent me her phone because my battery died,” she said, looking at me with a wink. “I’m calling because…”
?—…
?“Can you let me talk and listen to me? I need to know how you are because…”
?“Oh my God! If I have her phone it’s because I’m with her and I assure you I didn’t travel. You’ve got me worried, you just called me and all I could hear was noise…”
?“Henry, are you listening to what I’m saying?”
?—…
?“I already told you no. She doesn’t want to,” she said in a lower tone. “Just tell me if you’re okay and if you’re with someone, and I don’t mean women, I mean your friends.”
?—…
?“Don’t insist.”
?—…
?“Yes, she arrived today.”
?—…
?“Is Waylon with you?”
?—…
?“I’m asking you, please, to take care of yourself, you have me worried. And don’t drink anymore, do it for me,” Niky said, and her expression of sadness and concern really troubled me because I also adored my brothers and would worry about them just like she was.
?—…
?—What you’re asking is impossible. There’s nothing I can do, I’m sorry. Take care of yourself, please I’m begging you.
?—…
?—No, Henry. We’ll talk later and answer when I call you.
Niky hung up and stared at the phone, thoughtful. Then she stretched out her hand and returned it to me.
—Do you feel better now? —I asked, although it was obvious she didn’t.
—Not really. But, well, there’s nothing I can do.
—Was he with someone? I mean his friend —I clarified immediately, because I didn’t want her to think I was asking about women.
—He told me he was with Waylon.
—That’s good, isn’t it?
—Maybe —she said, though she remained thoughtful and downcast—, but he’s still being reckless. Well, let’s watch that movie, there’s nothing more I can do now.
We started watching it, although it was clear that neither of us was concentrating on it and both for the same reason—we were worried about Henry.
Niky had managed to pass her concern on to me, and now all I could think about was that being in a place surrounded by people, he could easily become a target again for the person who had already attacked him.
A person who was still out there unpunished for their crimes.
A little while later, Niky’s phone rang and we both jumped. She picked it up immediately and looked at me with great concern.
—It’s Waylon —she informed me.
She put the phone to her ear and answered:
?—Hello, Waylon, is something wrong?
?—…
?—I can’t believe what you’re telling me —she said, shaking her head.
I watched her attentively as a thousand thoughts invaded my mind, all related to Henry. If his friend was calling, it was because he had something to do with Niky’s concern.
?—…
?—What should I do?
?—…
?—Perfect, send me the address by message and I’ll head there right away. Thank you for taking care of him, Waylon —she said with conviction, and looked at me with desperation.
—Dali, I apologize, but I’m going to have to leave.
—Something happened with Henry —I stated.
—Yes; but don’t worry —she said, while gathering her things as I followed her.
—Niky, tell me if something happened to him, please. Can I help? —I asked anxiously, I couldn’t stay calm knowing something had happened to him.
—My brother emptied all the bottles at the bar and is monumentally drunk. Waylon can’t convince him to leave and asked me for help. I’m going to go and I swear I’m going to kill him myself.
—Do you want me to come with you? —I offered, knowing it wasn’t the best idea, but I felt I couldn’t leave Niky alone, or at least that was the excuse I gave myself.
—Would you? Because honestly, I don’t like the idea of going alone. Besides, I assure you that if he’s in the state Waylon described, he probably won’t even remember you were with me.
—Give me a few minutes to put on some jeans and we’ll go —I said, convinced.
Niky’s face lit up with a smile. I went to the bedroom and changed my shorts for pants.
We went in Niky’s car and arrived in twenty minutes.
The place was a dance pub and was packed with people.
Waylon had explained where they were located and we headed there.
When I saw him, I couldn’t believe the pitiful state he was in.
He was sitting on a couch, arguing with Waylon because he wanted to stand up and Waylon wouldn’t let him, nor would he allow him to grab any of the glasses with drinks.
He was wearing jeans and a shirt, but the shirt was untucked and dirty—I don’t know if he had vomited or spilled a drink on himself.
His hair, which was normally neatly combed, looked like it had been pulled upward and was completely disheveled, plus he had a couple days’ worth of beard growth. He was unrecognizable.
—My God! —exclaimed Niky, and approached immediately, while I stayed a bit back.
—I didn’t let him drink anymore, but I can’t convince him to leave and he can barely walk —Waylon informed, looking at Niky seriously.
—Waylon, this is Dalina —she said, pointing at me.
Waylon looked at me with surprise, then approached.
—Dalina, a pleasure to meet you. I have to apologize because I know that the problem you had with Henry was partly my fault.
—It wasn’t your fault, you didn’t know me and had no way of knowing that person wasn’t me.
—I should have realized she wasn’t the type of woman Henry would date. You have nothing in common with her.
—Let me disagree, I think Henry dates any type of woman —I stated.
—Waylon, can you help me? —asked Niky, who was talking to Henry, but he seemed to be in another world.
Waylon approached, took his face in his hands, and spoke loudly.
“Brother, stop being stupid and behave yourself. Dalina is here.”
When he said this, Henry looked at him seriously and then let out a loud laugh. Niky looked at me with concern, and I remained standing in the same spot, almost two meters away from where he was.
“Don’t laugh, I’m being serious. Dalina is here,” Waylon said.